Argos cornerback Ahmad Carroll needs to bounce back from a disastrous game in which he was called for 79 yards in penalties.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Chris Williams, left, scores a touchdown behind Argonauts cornerback Ahmad Carroll during a game in July. Carroll has been told in no uncertain terms by head coach Scott Milanovich that he needs to cut down on his penalties in Monday's Labour Day tilt against the Ticats. He was called for four in last week's loss to Edmonton.

By:Bob MitchellSports Reporter, Published on Sat Sep 01 2012

After a disastrous game in which he alone generated 79 yards in penalties, and got beat by Fred Stamps on a 44-yard pass in man-to-man coverage near the goal line, Argonauts cornerback Ahmad Carroll has a clear understanding of what he and his team have to do in Monday’s Labour Day Classic against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“We’ve got to jump out on them. Put our feet on their neck,” Carroll said. “Losing to Edmonton, we just gave Hamilton hope. Henry Burris and their team think they can get two points at home. We have to learn how to finish and take back control of our division.”

The Argos, now 4-4, were penalized for 154 yards in last Monday’s 27-16 loss to Edmonton. Carroll was called four times, including a blatant 49-yard pass interference call on receiver Cary Koch that gave Edmonton a first down on Toronto’s four-yard line. Two plays later, QB Kerry Joseph ran in for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.

The former first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers (24th overall, 2004 draft) took an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter that kept an Edmonton drive going. He was also called for illegal contact on a receiver and offside.

The penalties overshadowed his first interception of the season and led to a meeting behind closed doors with head coach Scott Milanovich. Nothing angers Milanovich more than undisciplined penalties, something that has killed drives and resulted in opposition scores and scoring chances all season.

Carroll spent much of the fourth quarter on the bench after he got beat by Stamps, which resulted in a 10-yard TD run by Hugh Charles, the final score in last Monday’s loss. Safety Jordan Younger took Carroll’s spot and Matt Black moved into Younger’s. Carroll is expected to start against the Ticats.

Since Day 1 of training camp, Carroll, nicknamed “Batman,” has been one of the loudest players at practice, always chirping, always pumping up his defensive teammates. Off the gridiron, he’s soft spoken, answering questions in a voice barely above a whisper.

“The coach told me I had to cut down my penalties and to play better,” Carroll said. “I’m not upset with myself. But I have to focus better. The main thing is to not let it happen again. Correct it, work on it at practice.”

Playing better doesn’t mean not playing aggressively, Carroll said.

“If I’m going to go out there and try not to play without taking penalties, I’m going to have a horrible game. The coach doesn’t have to reprimand anybody. We hold ourselves accountable. We’re extremely hard on ourselves.”

With Monday’s game also televised throughout the U.S. by the NBC Sports Network, there was a lot of Twitter traffic about Carroll, much of it not too flattering. All told, the Argo defence had its worst game of the season last week.

The close-knit secondary needs to be solid against Hamilton and its explosive offence, which includes speeders Chris Williams, elusive Andy Fantuz and quick rookie tailback Chevon Walker, who should play after missing last week’s 31-29 loss to Montreal with a minor injury.

“We can’t continue to have close games. I don’t think there’s been a game this season where we beat anybody by two touchdowns,” Carroll said. “We know what Hamilton is capable of. But we have to have one game where we separate ourselves and show we’re clearly better than them. We have to get on them, keep them second-and-long and don’t give them hope.

“The way we practise is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. We practise harder than we actually play in the games. Our practices are fast paced. We move in and out. We run plays. We’re competing more against our own offence than worrying about what the team we’re going to face is going to do. I’ve never been part of anything like that.”

Milanovich understands the necessity for his team to play better in every phase of the game than they did against the Eskimos. The back-to-back games with Hamilton — they play again Sept. 8 — are as crucial as any this season.

“The Edmonton game was our worst game defensively and big penalties hurt us and cost us field position,” Milanovich said. “The urgency is ratcheting up as we get deeper into the season. We have to start making that climb.”

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